Many people complain about painful leg cramps that wake them at night. The pain they cause can be excruciating, even making grown-ups cry.

Their doctors have nothing they can prescribe for this problem. At one time, they used to prescribe quinine. The FDA decided, however, that this botanical derivative is too dangerous to use for a common problem like nighttime leg cramps. Quinine can cause a life-threatening blood disorder as well as heart rhythm irregularities or severe allergic responses. Although such reactions are rare, they can be extremely serious. As a result, doctors may end up recommending home remedies like tonic water (which contains quinine) or bananas. They might even advise their patients to take magnesium to correct an electrolyte imbalance.

Is Magnesium Deficiency the Cause of Painful Leg Cramps?

New research published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests, however, that magnesium supplements are no more effective than placebo. In a small randomized, controlled trial, Israeli investigators administered magnesium oxide supplements or placebo to 88 volunteers with nighttime leg cramps. The dose was 865 mg of magnesium oxide, providing 520 mg of free magnesium.

During the month-long study, participants recorded the number of cramps they experienced at night. There was no statistical difference between the two groups. The authors conclude that magnesium supplements are unlikely to offer any benefit for nighttime leg cramps.

Why This Study Might Not Be the Last Word:

We are always thrilled when scientists decide to test a home remedy such as magnesium through a randomized controlled trial. Given that this research had such unimpressive results, no other researchers may want to study magnesium to prevent painful leg cramps. But we are not entirely convinced that this is the last word.

The study authors were careful to calculate ahead of time how many volunteers they would need in the trial for reasonable certainty that the results would be reliable:

“We estimated that 110 participants would be needed in each group to achieve 80% power to detect a treatment difference at a 2-sided .05 significance level if the true difference between treatments is 1 (difference in mean change between treatment groups) NLC per week.” [NLC stands for nocturnal leg cramp.]

So, to get a statistically reliable result, they would have needed 220 volunteers, but they were able to recruit less than half that many. That is why we are reserving judgment on whether or not magnesium supplements are truly useless against painful leg cramps at night. It is not that this study is wrong; but rather, it is not complete.

Others will turn to one of the home remedies we have written about before. Some of these remedies appear implausible. Who would imagine that swallowing yellow mustard could help? Yet, there is actually a likely explanation for mustard, ginger or other strong flavors stopping leg cramps quickly.

13 Thoughts Shared

Gary

B.C.

June 10, 2017 at 11:40 am

Ellen

NC

June 5, 2017 at 11:27 am

I tried the magnesium oxide. A waste of money. I switched to magnesium lactate and leg cramps gone. I heard the magnesium citrate works as well. Please look at these other 2 forms of magnesium. Possibly the body absorbs these better.

lynne

Dorset

July 6, 2017 at 3:48 pm

Eva

TN

May 9, 2017 at 7:30 pm

I could not live without magnesium supplements! I would have horrible leg cramps, headaches, and hiccups.
However, my body can not absorb magnesium oxide, so I buy magnesium citrate or triple magnesium complex. Still I have to take a triple dose of the triple capsules! Lately I have found that it’s more effective if I take Potassium supplement and b-6 supplement at the same time as the magnesium. I believe that magnesium deficiency is very widespread. So not only do I take it daily, but also I have bought many bottles of supplement to give away to friends!!

Patricia

MADISON, WI

May 5, 2017 at 9:01 am

Pat

San Antonio

May 5, 2017 at 8:53 am

25 years ago I began having horrible nightly leg cramps and my doctor prescribed quinine and it worked miracles; but I was concerned about taking it long term so did some muscle cramp research. I started taking a Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc supplement daily and my cramps disappeared. About a year later, I ran out of my supplement and didn’t buy more – within a few weeks my cramps were back so I take the supplement daily and very very rarely ever have a leg cramp, and if it happens, mustard or pickle juice within minutes takes care of the pain.

Mike

May 5, 2017 at 8:38 am

I started using the soap probably 3 or 4 years ago I have had great results but I don’t do it under the sheets tried but every now and then when the cramp would start to bite the only way I could stop it was to put the soap on the area starting to hurt . Then it would stop . So I put 4 socks on with soap and if I feel a bite coming on I just slide the sock to that area with my feet and no problems . Also if I lie down in the afternoon I some time will have a cramp start in my feet I have 2 socks with what I call soap rubble just lots of little pieces in there I can slide on a slipper slide the rubble sock in the slipper all the little pieces form to the foot and the cramp stops this is not instant may be 5 minutes but it does not continue at the same intensity .Just things I’ve learned over time. I also take 2- 400 mg magnesium pills before bed time about 1 to 2 hours before crashing exact time does not seem to matter this all works for me I’ve been playing with all this a for a few years now and it works for me I care nothing about studies or reasons why it works at my age it works and that’s good enough for me let the young one’s figure out why. Good luck to all, Mike.

Suzy

Nevada

May 5, 2017 at 8:28 am

Edward

Staten Island, NYC

May 5, 2017 at 8:13 am

No amount of massage, nor walking around, or any other method to try and increase circulation to relieve them would help, until I discovered yellow mustard! One giant, heaping tablespoon always does the trick. By the time I’m finished, they are gone completely and never return. Yellow mustard is a godsend for me and hasn’t failed yet!

Arlene

Tampa, FL

May 5, 2017 at 7:41 am

I have found that, for me, there is a strong correlation between how much iron is in my diet, and leg cramps. Too little = more cramps. Before bedtime I think about what I have eaten that day. If I haven’t had foods with much iron, I eat a small amount of raisins. Works for me!

Stacy

Ithaca, NY

May 5, 2017 at 7:41 am

My mother’s horrific leg cramps have abated with the use of a magnesium spray. Transdermal application applied directly to the legs can be preferable to oral dosing for this problem. No pills and no GI effect.

Char

Florida

May 5, 2017 at 7:36 am

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